With today’s fast paced world I believe it’s so easy to focus on chasing happiness rather than acknowledging the fact that you can experience happiness at this very moment. Today I wanted to share with you five habits of happy people. This is based on research and my own findings. 🙂

Simple yet effective! Enjoy!

Practice gratitude

When we take time on a consistent basis to reflect on the things that we are grateful for it is impossible to feel sadness or depression. Take notice of the little things in life that we all take for granted from time to time. Getting outside of your environment and visiting a poverty-stricken country or a local homeless shelter in your area can really put things into perspective. Writing down a few things you’re grateful for or sharing them with a close friend or family member can heighten the level of gratitude you may experience.

Live in the present

When I think about the times I’ve felt unhappy it doesn’t take long for me to discover that many of the negative feelings were brought upon due to me focusing on something that either was in the past or hadn’t even happened yet.  Being mindful of the here and now is crucial. The past is gone, leave it behind  and the future has not yet come. Focus your attention on where you are right now, that is the only moment that matters.

 Give Back 

This is a very important one guys. Ultimate happiness depends on whether you focus your energy on more than your very own happiness but that you reach out and give a helping hand. I’ve heard countless stories from people around the world sharing the fact that when they were in a bad place in their lives and they helped someone in need their sadness, depression, anxiety, etc. went away and then they felt happiness. They felt they had a purpose, a reason to live other than their own survival.

Embrace and love who you are 

Loving oneself can be a challenge. We might have grown up in a hostile environment with little or no loving support. I truly believe each and every one of us is equipped with everything we would need to live an extraordinary life. There is nothing that you are lacking. You are beautifully made in God’s image. Learning to love yourself in a healthy way not narcissistic is necessary to feel happy. When you truly love the being you are, your light will shine onto others and you will be capable of so much more.

Build meaningful relationships

As humans we yearn for human connection, recently I read an article that proved in a survey that if someone claims to have 5 or more friends with whom they can discuss important problems with they are 60% more likely to say they feel “very happy.” This past weekend I watched the documentary, Happy. (Watch the trailer here!) One of the main takeaways I had from the film was the importance of community and relationships. The film showed twenty families living under one roof in Denmark. Cohousing as they call it is a community of private homes grouped together. I loved this idea! Families there built lasting and beautiful relationships. For this reason and more Denmark is actually considered the happiest country in the world. :) 

Above all, remember that happiness is a choice! Whatever you choose to put your energy into will expand. Choose to focus on the goodness in your life and you will be happy. <3

Wishing you tons of love, success and a lifetime of bliss!